Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says G-7 will never welcome back Putin

FILE - In this May 2, 2011 file photo Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces a federal election at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada. Harper said Thursday, June 4, 2015, Russia should never be allowed back in the Group of Seven as long as Vladimir Putin is president. He said in an interview with The Associated Press that he expects the group won’t ever let Putin back in. He made the remarks ahead of his trip to Ukraine and the Group of Seven meeting in Germany this week. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
(The Associated Press)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Harper said that Russia should never be allowed back in the Group of 7 as long as Vladimir Putin is president. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
(The Associated Press)

TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Russia should never be allowed back in the Group of Seven as long as Vladimir Putin is president.

Harper said in an interview with The Associated Press Thursday that he expects the group won't ever let Putin back in. He made the remarks ahead of his trip to Ukraine and the Group of Seven meeting in Germany this week.

Harper says Russia has long eroded any basis for belonging to the group of wealthy nations. He also noted that Russia has ramped up long range bomber patrols near North American airspace. The G-7 suspended Russia last year but hasn't ruled out welcoming him back.

Harper says it would require consensus to "bring Russia back and that consensus will just not happen."